From April through November, the Lawrence Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 7:30 –11:30 a.m. with the mission to grow both food and community, according to the Market’s website. As a 501c3, which is a non-profit organization tax-exempt by the IRS, they said they work to enhance access to locally grown food and farm products for the Lawrence community along with education opportunities.

According to the Market, “Shopping locally at the Lawrence Farmers Market is about keeping our local economy strong, knowing where our food comes from, reducing our carbon footprint, and supporting and connecting with our neighbors.”

For junior Hamza Chahine, the Lawrence Farmers Market has been a key part of his Saturday routine since he was six. Every weekend, Chahine can be found at the Lebanese Flower booth, his family’s restaurant, which has been operating in Lawrence since 2001.

The family-owned business was started by Chahine’s grandfather, who is Lebanese and immigrated to the United States after living in Dubai. Drawing on his cultural roots, he began preparing and selling traditional Lebanese dishes, including hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh and Dubai chocolate.

“[My grandpa] knows how to make all these foods, and he wanted to bring it to Lawrence,” Chahine said.

Now, the business is a multi-generational effort. Chahine works in the kitchen after school and works alongside his family at the booth each weekend. Chahine said that working with his family has strengthened their bond and helped him connect more with people.

Furthermore, junior Megan Green said that the Market isn’t just a place to buy food—it’s an accessible space for the community to come together.

“One of the biggest reasons why it is important to have spaces like these in the community is to help support families and uplift the overall community mood and atmosphere,” Green said.

Also eager for community engagement, newly hired market manager Lindsey Fowks said in a press release by the Lawrence Farmers Market that she is passionate about fostering connections between local farmers, artisans and the Lawrence community. Similarly, Chahine said that the market’s more intimate environment helps people feel more connected.

“I think [the market is] important because it brings the community together in one place because it’s a little smaller,” Chahine said. “If you go to the Busker Festival type stuff, it’s very big, but at the Lawrence Farmers Market, there’s a lot of local vendors that everybody goes to if they want something and to shop locally.”